New Guinea impatiens plant named ‘Danharltorc’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Danharltorc’ characterized by having large, round, light pink flowers borne above the foliage, vigorous branching, green foliage, and early flowering response.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Danharltorc’.

‘Danharltorc’ is a product of a planned breeding program and wasoriginated from a hybridization made by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger,in a controlled breeding program in Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, 1997. Thefemale parent was an Impatiens cultivar designated B-385. The maleparent was an Impatiens cultivar designated C-390. Both parents areproprietary cultivars used in the breeding program.

‘Danharltorc’ was discovered and selected as a flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated cross by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in1998 in a controlled environment in Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Danharltorc’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 1998in a controlled environment in Mishmar Hashiva, Israel by GabrielDanziger. The cuttings are apical cuttings. No more than two expandedleaves and 3-4 immature leaves are evident. Horticultural examination ofplants grown from these cuttings in Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Danharltorc’ which in combinationdistinguish this Impatiens as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large, round, light pink flowers borne above the foliage;

2. Vigorous branching;

3. Green foliage; and

4. Early flowering response.

‘Danharltorc’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantlywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, anddaylength without any change in the genotype of the plant. The followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grownin Mishmar Hashiva, Israel under greenhouse conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical flower andfoliage characteristics of ‘Danharltorc’, with colors being as true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and are based onplants grown from rooted cuttings in a net-covered greenhouse attemperatures of 30° C. maximum and 18° C. minimum. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used.

Species: Impatiens hawkeri.

Classification:

Botanical.—A hybrid of the genus Impatiens.

Commercial.—New Guinea Impatiens, cv. ‘Danharltorc’.

Plant:

General appearance and form.—Height: 15-20 cm. Width: 25-30 cm. Habit:Plant shape is round and compact. Branching: Vigorous in character.Flowering response: Early flowering response, 8-9 weeks after plantingof rooted cuttings. Flowering season: Throughout the entire year; theinstant plant is an annual plant, propagated in partially shaded areasin temperatures of 10° C.-25° C. degrees. Lasting quality of bloom: Openduring the lifetime of the plant lasting quality of individual bloomranges from 5-10 days after anthesis. Propagation: Leaf-cutting.Rooting: Vigorous, roots initiate in 6-7 days at 25° C. and 8-9 days at20° C. Stem: Length is 20-25 cm, diameter is 0.8 cm, internode length is5-6 cm. Stem Color: RHS 143 C. Spur Color: RHS 145 D. Fragrance: Flowershave no fragrance.

Foliage.—Shape of leaf: Overall oblong lanceolate; base is acuminate;tip is attenuate. Margin: Shallowly serrated, ciliated. Texture: Smoothwithout pubescence. Length of leaf: 9.5-10 cm. Width of leaf: 3-3.2 cm.Main color on upper surface: Mature leaf: RHS 147 A. Immature leaf: RHS137 A. Main color on lower surface: Mature leaf: RHS 147 B. Immatureleaf: RHS 137 D. Veination: Upper surface: One main, light-red vein RHS144D. Lower surface: One main, light-red vein (RHS 60 B) and small,green veinations going from the main vein.

Inflorescence:

Corolla.—Form: 5 petals per flower. Shape: Round. Average number: 20-25, blooms at once per mature plant (four months old). Size: 6-6.5 cm.Petal number: 5. Petal shape: 4 are heart-shaped, the dorsal petals arefree, the lateral petals are fused in pairs, the dorsal petal is widerthan the lateral petals and is also heart-shaped. Petal color: Uppersurface: In spring when opening, petals are light pink, RHS 65 C,without fading. Lower surface: Light pink, RHS 65 D.

Bud.—Color: 65D. Response: 6-7 weeks after planting of rooted cuttings,developing into open flowers approximately two weeks later. Size beforeopening: 2-2.5 cm. Aspect: Stands above pedicel and has a curved spur 4cm long. Pedicel length: 4-4.5 cm. Pedicel color: RHS 145 B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: 1. Anthers: Round, nearly white in color.Pollen: White. Stigma: Round, white in color. Ovary: Four-celled, 1 mmin length, green in color.

Disease resistance: This variety is not distinctively resistant orsusceptible to plant disease.

Fruits and seeds: Fruit is an explosive capsule. Seeds are smooth, 1 mmwide, 2-3 mm length, elliptic shape.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named‘Danharltorc’, as illustrated and described herein.